Florida Man Arrested For Violating Irma Curfew Dies After Suffering 'Medical Episode' In Custody

NAPLES, FL — A man who was arrested in Florida for violating a local curfew imposed during Hurricane Irma died after being taken into custody early Thursday morning and the man's family is searching for answers.

Dewan Rewis, 31, of Chokoloskee suffered a "medical episode" Thursday morning after his arrest and was transported to a local hospital where he died the next day, the Collier County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. Rewis along with Angela Goff, 36, of Golden Gate were both arrested for violating the mandatory curfew in Collier County that was in place from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

According to an arrest report, officers from various departments were manning the Chokoloskee Causeway Bridge — which connects Everglades City to the island community of Chokoloskee — that had been damaged due to Irma. Around 1:30 a.m., a sergeant with the sheriff's department was notified that a car was stopped at the bridge and the sergeant said to hold the occupants of the car, Rewis and Goff, till he arrived at the scene.

When asked what Rewis was doing out past curfew, he said that he went to Walmart, according to the report. Rewis was asked to exit the vehicle and to turn around and put his hands on the car and when Rewis asked why, the sergeant informed him he was under arrest for violating the curfew, the report states.

According to the report, Rewis began to flee and while he ran, he pushed an officer in the chest and struck him in the head, according to the report. Several officers pursued Rewis and after being tackled to the ground he continued to fight and resist the arrest when the sergeant deployed his Taser, according to the report. When the Taser didn't work, the sergeant moved in with a "drive stun" and Rewis grabbed the Taser and tried to remove it from the sergeant's hand, the report says.

The sergeant was able to keep the Taser in his hand but "Rewis's finger was on the trigger, activating the device longer," according to the report.

Officers were finally able to get Rewis in handcuffs and EMS was called to the scene. The report says Rewis complained about his jaw hurting. He was evaluated by EMS and taken to the hospital for treatment before being transported to the Naples Jail Center. He was arrested for battery of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest with violence, resisting arrest without violence and violation of an emergency order.

The sheriff's department said Rewis resisted corrections deputies at the jail and they deployed pepper spray to bring him under control, the sheriff's department said.

Goff was arrested for violation of an emergency order and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to the arrest report, authorities found a purse in the car that contained a digital scale, two hypodermic needles and a methamphetamine smoking pipe with residue.

Around 8:30 a.m., deputies saw Rewis slumped over in his cell apparently suffering from a "medical episode." He was taken to Naples Community Hospital where he died the next day.

"I don't know how long he laid in the cell unresponsive," Rewis' father, Eddie Rewis Jr., told The Naples Daily News. "I don't have nothing yet. I've been at a loss. Doctors don't know what he died from."

The paper reported that doctors could not say what caused the younger Rewis to be on life support at the hospital and the family was told he was brain dead. He was taken off of life support around 5:53 p.m.

A death investigation is being conducted as well as an administrative investigation to ensure that policies and procedures were followed.

Rewis' father acknowledged to the paper that his son has a history of drug arrests and was known to local police. He also said he believes his son was assaulted based on the bruises and cuts he saw on his son when he was on life support.

Friends and family that spoke to the paper said he had been helping people in his community after Irma struck.

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